Yeah. I had to take over a class in a school I taught at before getting laid off. It was on the eastside, really hood area in Detroit and I had middle school science.
They had the classes split up into genders so the boys would always try to fight each other and I never let it fly b/c I didn't want a bad rep and I'm young enough to get there in time.
Remember a few instances of a kid trying to square up with me when I checked him for fooling around when he needed to get his work in

if the kid was doing dumb unnecessary things like...the 7th graders would take free breakfast and start slinging it across the classroom.
Had to nip that in the bud and I remember a couple kids trying to slide in threats, thinking they were tough. "Yo, I think I could whoop Mr. L's ass."
Bunch of young cats trying to be men. I used to look them in the eye like

"How about you chill out and get your work done."
Had a kid get really tough and try to square up on me like "What if I swung on you right now?"
I'd just talk to him as low as I could so it wouldn't escalate but say "Look. There's nothing but space & opportunity right here. Everybody's watching. You already seem set in what you're gonna do but I bet you're not so sure about what'd happen next. If you feel like taking that risk, be my guest...or else, take the wise route and head back to your seat."
They'd chill out every time. Most of these kids aren't REALLY about that life...
...but I've seen other older male teachers get punked. By girls and boys. It's sad, man. Kids are reckless and the Worldstar era doesn't help. Kids don't even start beef for legit reasons anymore. They just do it to set up Youtube fights and try to get hits.
Seriously...
